Matt Scrimgeour (insert) is an amazing guy. He takes care of all the logistics of the weekend, and is still able to facilitate meetings in a fresh and releasing way. Jussi from Finland is also quite a character. Half an hour before the meeting starts he's on location to pray for breakthrough. Often he's singing so loud that I'd wish John Calvin was still alive, as in his time 'loud singers' were treated on a tongue piercing. In some respects Calvin was way beyond his time...
Today several people feel intimidated and disconnected. We pray for them and I explain how satan uses intimidation and our inner insecurities to keep us from our calling and how we can deal with it. Then I move on to the theme of this morning: Luke 9 and 10, in which Jesus sends out his disciples two by two. It's a prototype of apostolic ministry and a more mobile form of church. Jesus gives his friends the authority over demons and sickness, and tells them not to bring food, money or extra clothing. He's moving them out of their comfort zone, so they really have to trust God for their daily needs and to find the 'people of peace', folks that God prepared to receive the Kingdom of God.
I share from my own life how God led me into a deeper depencency on Him, and that this can be strugglesome. But I believe God is calling our generation to a prophetic lifestyle that is counter-cultural. Living without human securities will break strongholds in our own lives and others'. It prepares us for more difficult times, like times when Christians won't be able to buy or sell, and have to trust God's provision daily. It's also the heart of apostolic ministry: laying down our lives for the unreached, meeting people's needs right where they are, bringing Jesus into the conversation and into their experience. By offering prayer or blessing people relationally or practically we are imparting something of the Kingdom of God.
Maaike (insert) shares her heart for the lost and hurting. "Did you know that if you would just mention the names of the world's street kids one by one to God - like Peter, Jeremy, Hannah, Joyce... - you would need five years to mention them all?" So many people hurt and it makes a big difference if someone prays and cares in Jesus' name. Then Maaike and Heidi Plympton give a very practical lesson in how to prophesy over people and speak destiny into their lives. We practise in small groups of three with people we don't know yet.
After a picknick in the park we go out two by two into Geneva to hang out with people and bless them, trusting Jesus to pave the way and make the right connections. Everyone is excited about this opportunity. Maaike and I link up and take a stroll along the lake. When we come across an older man, Maaike receives a word of knowledge that he lost contact with his son. The guy only speaks French and confirms that his son lives in Zürich and doesn't really care about him anymore. Now things get complicated, because he's a bit drunk and I have no clue what else he's talking about. Suddenly he gets up from his bench and walks away. We pray for him that God will heal his hurt and restore the relationship with his son. And above all, that he will receive a revelation of Jesus Christ and the calling on his life.
A bit later we spot a 'pillar of smoke' above the park and decide to check it out. It turns out to be a group of people having a BBQ, and they are so kind to invite us to partake in the meat. At least we'll be able to fulfil the 'eat and drink whatever they give you' part, I ponder. The group is quite young and international: a guy from Mongolia who looks like Zenghis Khan, a guy from Turkmenistan who apparently loves the good things in live but misses his wife and kids back home, a girl from Asia, an intellectual looking guy from Israel, a business trainee guy and several girls from Russia, a guy from France. This unlikely band of friends seem to work together on a project for the restitution of money to victims of the holocaust. The girl from Asia tells me that in order to decide on the applications of the Jewish victims, she had to read through the stories of what had happened to them in the concentration camps. This caused her nightmares for the fist two months she worked on the project. The group is spoiling us with sausages, steak, juice and wine. Then the wodka starts pouring and we are being treated on Russian songs. We share that we're in Geneva with a group of 50 friends from different nations to pray for people and share Jesus with them. When we leave they all shake hands and say 'God bless you'. The guy from Turkmenistan says: "Think of me, Tahir." I tell him I'll pray for him.
When we arrive at the church, our group starts pouring in. Everyone has had special encounters with people and it's wonderful to hear the stories.

In the evening we hear stories about what God is doing among the emerging generation in Finland, Norway, the Shetlands, the Netherlands, Germany, Italy and Portugal. Then we pray for the participants from these nations. Matt has an interesting way of doing this. We first get the people in a circle while they embrace each other's shoulders. Then we shout to the Lord to thank Him and call on Him for these nations. I can tell you, this is not just shouting, but something is breaking through in the heavenlies and released in these people. Then we pray in tongues over them. Then a time of silence and hearing from God. Then a time of sharing and praying out prophetic words over the nations. Then we 'push' God's destiny and promises into them. No need to say it was awesome.